2020-2021 Offseason Thread

[jad]

WOW! And to think, it was only by getting rid of Mookie that we are even in a position to make these fantastic deals!!!

[notin]

WOW! And to think, it was only by getting rid of Mookie that we are even in a position to make these fantastic deals!!!

 

At some point, they do have to justify the whole "reset" thing...

[moonslav59]

That was certainly part of the advantage to trading Betts. So far, we've not seen it.

[oldtimer]

That was certainly part of the advantage to trading Betts. So far, we've not seen it.

 

Have patience. Perez was added and we will probably sign another starter very soon. Yes the BP needs help and there are still CF, possibly LF and 2nd base to deal with. I don't believe this is the year to compete at the highest level, but I do expect a much more competitive team.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The surest way to make a team competitive is to add quality starting pitchers on the mound. This is no mystery, and no modern stats can supersede the history of the past 120 years.

 

Trading prospects for a guy like Pedro or Sale in his prime or signing a guy like Scherzer or Bauer in his prime should be the goal of every able baseball organization. Top starters can make a bad team relevant, and a good team contenders. No matter what, an ace sells more tickets, providing the club with more profit to invest in more talent to make the roster even better.

[notin]

The surest way to make a team competitive is to add quality starting pitchers on the mound. This is no mystery, and no modern stats can supersede the history of the past 120 years.

 

Trading prospects for a guy like Pedro or Sale in his prime or signing a guy like Scherzer or Bauer in his prime should be the goal of every able baseball organization. Top starters can make a bad team relevant, and a good team contenders. No matter what, an ace sells more tickets, providing the club with more profit to invest in more talent to make the roster even better.

 

The last place 2012 Red Sox added only Ryan Dempster to the rotation. Does that count in the history?

[Bellhorn04]

The last place 2012 Red Sox added only Ryan Dempster to the rotation. Does that count in the history?

 

There are always exceptions, and the 2013 Red Sox were virtually a unicorn.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The last place 2012 Red Sox added only Ryan Dempster to the rotation. Does that count in the history?

 

Sure does, and if you want you can probably find a handful of exceptions to the norm, maybe even five worsts to firsts out of hundreds of division winners, pennant winners and ring winners. Some of them even began the season with three other All-Star starters and added a closer who had a better season than any in Mariano Rivera's unanimous Hall of Fame career.

[notin]

Sure does, and if you want you can probably find a handful of exceptions to the norm, maybe even five worsts to firsts out of hundreds of division winners, pennant winners and ring winners. Some of them even began the season with three other All-Star starters and added a closer who had a better season than any in Mariano Rivera's unanimous Hall of Fame career.

 

That’s the funny thing.

 

Most of us did not think Lackey coming back would be good. And really, until the post season, he wasn’t. Buchholz was amazing - probably his best year. But he was part of last place in2012.

 

You’re right in the biggest addition to that 2013 team was Uehara. But he was not a starter, which is what your point was...

Edited January 17, 2021 by notin

[kenmeister]

Have patience. Perez was added and we will probably sign another starter very soon. Yes the BP needs help and there are still CF, possibly LF and 2nd base to deal with. I don't believe this is the year to compete at the highest level, but I do expect a much more competitive team.

 

I love Verdugo, but Mookie Betts is gone so we can pass on Kluber and re-sign Perez? I don't get it. At any rate, if we don't get a closer, we won't be competitive.

[Kimmi]

Not sure why Bloom likes Martin Perez. He's not horrible, but not exactly what we need, either.

 

I'm never onboard with building a rotation from the 4 or 5 slot, but since this can be just a 1 year deal, it's just a punt. As long as we sign someone like Odorizzi (and I'm not sure of who else is "like" him), I'm fine with Perez as depth.

 

I said several times last season that, given our need for pitching, picking up Perez' option was a no brainer. I was surprised when the Sox declined the option. I have to remember that Bloom actually knows what he is doing.

 

Perez is not a game changer. Nor is he Bloom's big pitching move. He is more of a depth move who should keep the team in most games that he starts.

 

I think it's a good move. Now on to bigger and better things.

[notin]

I love Verdugo, but Mookie Betts is gone so we can pass on Kluber and re-sign Perez? I don't get it. At any rate, if we don't get a closer, we won't be competitive.

 

The only market that is actually moving is the closer/reliever market. That’s one Bloom needs to do something in quickly...

[Kimmi]

Or a punt emoji.

 

Et tu, Bell?

[Kimmi]

WOW! And to think, it was only by getting rid of Mookie that we are even in a position to make these fantastic deals!!!

 

^^^More exclamation points!!!

 

The excitement is building!!!

[Bellhorn04]

Et tu, Bell?

 

Sorry, Kimmi, the Perez signing has had kind of a depressing effect on me. I still have hopes, but I'm scratching my head on what the plan is.

[Kimmi]

Have patience. Perez was added and we will probably sign another starter very soon. Yes the BP needs help and there are still CF, possibly LF and 2nd base to deal with. I don't believe this is the year to compete at the highest level, but I do expect a much more competitive team.

 

I am extremely confident that we will add another starting pitcher, perhaps two.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

That’s the funny thing.

 

Most of us did not think Lackey coming back would be good. And really, until the post season, he wasn’t. Buchholz was amazing - probably his best year. But he was part of last place in2012.

 

You’re right in the biggest addition to that 2013 team was Uehara. But he was not a starter, which is what your point was...

 

Stumbling upon Koji after three other established closers couldn't get it done was one of the luckiest finds in Sox history. Signing a past-prime Dempster helped, but signing one guy or even two guys like that isn't going to lead Boston to the most wins in the majors ala 2013 -- not when we don't have anything close to a healthy Big Three of Lester, Lackey and Buch ready to open the season.

 

The only sure thing the staff has right now is Martin Perez.

[Kimmi]

Sorry, Kimmi, the Perez signing has had kind of a depressing effect on me. I still have hopes, but I'm scratching my head on what the plan is.

 

I get the feeling that Bloom is going to pull off a few trades in the near future, the first involving Beni, whose trade I'm not particularly on board with. What trades will follow, I have no clue. I don't think we will have any 'wow' moments this offseason, but we will do enough to have a competitive team.

[Kimmi]

We should bring Buchholz back. And Porcello.

[Bellhorn04]

B-R projects Perez for 156 innings, a 4.96 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, and a 1.97 K/BB.

[Bellhorn04]

We should bring Buchholz back. And Porcello.

 

No Lester?

[Bellhorn04]

I would have much preferred Porcello to Perez.

[Kimmi]

No Lester?

 

Ha. Sure, why not? As much as I love Lester, though, I would take Porcello over him.

[Kimmi]

I would have much preferred Porcello to Perez.

 

I would have too. You have to wonder what kind of deal Porcello is looking for and if he even has any interest in coming back.

[notin]

I would have much preferred Porcello to Perez.

 

Big agree...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I would have much preferred Porcello to Perez.

 

Porcello was a Dombro guy; Perez is a Bloom guy.

[notin]

Porcello was a Dombro guy; Perez is a Bloom guy.

 

Porcello was a Cherington guy.

 

Dombrowski traded him away. Cherington traded for him and extended him...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Porcello was a Cherington guy.

 

Dombrowski traded him away. Cherington traded for him and extended him...

 

I knew this would be coming. So let's not forget, either, that Porcello was the leading winner on Dave Dombrowski's Legacy Team in 2018.

[Bellhorn04]

I knew this would be coming. So let's not forget, either, that Porcello was the leading winner on Dave Dombrowski's Legacy Team in 2018.

 

Dave drafted him, too.

[notin]

Dave drafted him, too.

 

True. But I focused on his Sox transactions, and Dombrowski traded him to Boston...